Unit Study Supplement: Colorado Facts, U.S. 38th State

Colorado has a lot going on, between its beautiful nature and its deep history. Did you know that the state got the name Colorado, which is Spanish for “colored red,” because of the river that runs through it? It is also one of the states that make up the Four Corners National Monument!

Discover more about the history and geography of the Centennial State in this homeschool unit study supplement. This is part of Time4Learning’s full series of United States unit study supplements.

You can also download our list of PreK-12 interactive activities that align with your study of interesting facts about Colorado.

Colorado Fast Facts

Became a State	August 1, 1876
Order it Joined the Union	38th state
State Capital	Denver
State Abbreviation	CO
Border States	Wyoming Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma New Mexico Utah Arizona
State Flag
State Song	Where the Columbines Grow
State Flower	Blue columbine
State Nickname	The Centennial State
Notable Coloradans	Clara Brown, slave Tim Allen, actor M. Scott Carpenter, astronaut Byron White, Justice of U.S. Supreme Court John Kerry, politician AnnaSophia Robb, actress

Historical Facts About Colorado

The history of Colorado began long before the state joined the Union. In 500 A.D., a group of American Indians called the Anasazi culture inhabited Colorado. The culture was known for making and weaving baskets, and were hunter-gatherers. The Anasazis developed and lived in Adobe structures that were located on the sides of cliffs.

As the years went on, different Indian tribes called Colorado their home: the Comanche, Apache, Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho tribes. Some of these tribes were still in Colorado when the land was first visited by Europeans.

In 1541, Spanish explorer Francisco de Coronado first visited Colorado in search of gold. Once he found that there was no gold, Francisco left, and the land remained unexplored until 1682. That year, French explorer Robert de La Salle claimed the land for France.

For a while after France’s purchase, Colorado remained undeveloped. However, in 1803, the United States bought Colorado as part of the Louisiana Purchase, with help from Thomas Jefferson. An American by the name of Zebulon Pike began to map out the land in 1806. However, Zebulon and his crew were taken as prisoners by the Spanish when they accidentally crossed the Mexico border. They were released a year later.

By 1821, settlers had begun to move into Colorado with help from the Santa Fe Trail. This trail went from Missouri to New Mexico, and allowed easier access to southeast Colorado. In 1833, the first permanent settlement, Fort Bent, was created along the Santa Fe Trail. However, further development was halted during the Mexican-American war.

Once the war ended in 1848, development of western Colorado began. This exploration led to the discovery of gold in 1858, leading to spike in the state’s population. Because of this growth, the U.S. designated Colorado as an official territory in 1861.

More growth led to the Denver Pacific Railway in 1870, and Colorado finally became a state on November 7th, 1876. It was nicknamed the Centennial State because it became a state in honor of the 100th year of the Declaration of Independence. This occurred under the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant.

To increase your child’s love for online learning, they can study the timeline which includes highlights of important dates in the history of the Centennial State as well as interesting facts about Colorado.

Bring history and geography to life with Time4Learning’s interactive online social studies curriculum for grades 2-12.

Geographical Facts About Colorado

Colorado is a diverse state in its nature; it is home to many different landscapes, such as mountains, glaciers, forests, rivers, and lakes.  It is ranked 8th in terms of land size, but 22nd for population size, which means a lot of its land space is not heavily developed. The state is also part of the four corners monument, which is the point where the states Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah meet.

When studying Colorado’s geography, start by having your homeschooler locate the state on this printable map of the United States. To get a more in-depth view, explore this map of the state, then download our printable Colorado map below and have your child label important cities and landmarks. Learn more about Colorado’s geography and its unique features with these interesting facts.

• The state is best known for skiing because of its mountains and cold weather. As the leading ski state in all of North America, Colorado makes $4.8 billion off of the sport annually.
• The name Colorado is a Spanish word that means “colored red,” and was given to the state because of the red-mud color of the Colorado River, which runs southwest from the top center of the state.
• Four Corners, which is the meeting point of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, is the only place in the U.S. where four states meet.
• The capital of Colorado, Denver, is called the Mile High City because it has an elevation of 5,280ft above sea level. That means Denver is exactly one mile above sea level!
• Boulder, about 25 miles northwest of Denver, is the only city in the U.S. with a glacier.
• The highest city in the United States is located in Colorado. It is called Leadville, about 100 miles southwest of Denver, and has an elevation of 10,430ft above sea level.
• The Rocky Mountain National Park is also located in Colorado, about 70 miles northwest of Denver. The mountain range continues north and south of park as well.
• The United States Air Force Academy is located 60 miles directly south of Denver, and was chosen because of all the open land that was available.
• 36% of Colorado’s land is owned by the U.S. Government because of its many national parks, monuments, and sanctuaries.
• The Colorado state flag has a white stripe in the middle of it to represent the snow capped mountains.
• Pikes Peak, which was the first mountain discovered in Colorado, is about 100 miles southwest of Denver, and about 20 miles west of Colorado Springs. It inspired the song “America the Beautiful” because of its gorgeous views.

Activities for Children in Colorado

Do you homeschool in the state of Colorado? Are you planning a trip to the Centennial State soon? With lots of land to explore, there’s so much to see! Below are a few field trip ideas that are fun and educational, and will help supplement the Colorado facts unit study. Have fun!

• Cave of the Winds Mountain Park (Manitou Springs) – There’s something for everyone at this mountain park! Homeschooling field trips can be requested for any size group. There are also different adventures to go on individually, from virtual reality tours to haunted ghost tours!
• The Denver Puppet Theatre (Denver) – For younger children, these field trips are a great way to learn about history and literature! Shows change every three months, so there is always something new to see. There is also a coffee shop and cafe on site to make the experience complete.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs) – Visit the 4th best zoo in North America, as voted by USAToday! There is plenty to see, from hand-feeding giraffes to starlight safari evenings. There are also lots of programs for children of different ages, so there’s something for everyone.
• Dinosaur Journey (Fruita) – As a part of the Museums of Western Colorado, Dinosaur Journey has much to offer homeschoolers. With its low admission cost and location in the heart of dinosaur country, students can learn about Colorado’s history through fossils and exhibits. The museum is an active paleontology research lab, so there is plenty to learn.
• Old Town Museum (Burlington) – Near the Colorado and Kansas border lies this relic of historical land. 21 historic buildings have been fully restored and includes artifacts from the 1900s. Your child can learn history and what pioneer life was like when Colorado first joined the union.

Colorado Freebies and Deals for Homeschoolers

• Young Americans Center for Financial Education (Denver) – Does your child have a business idea? Or perhaps your homeschoolers would like to learn more about money management. Young Americans Bank has a myriad of different programs for children of all ages, and the best thing is that they’re completely free!
• Thorne Nature Experience (Boulder) – While there are field trip experiences that can be purchased, homeschoolers will love to visit the free educational center. Sombrero Marsh holds open family visits for no charge every Monday and Tuesday from 1-5pm, which is perfect for an afternoon field trip! There are plenty of outdoor play and learning spaces, as well as a trail to hike.
• Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (Denver) – For a complete overview of free activities in Denver and its surrounding metropolitan area, the SCFD has a monthly calendar of free days in various areas.
• Arts Longmont Gallery (Longmont) – This gallery is completely free to visit, and they also host studio tours and classes. Be sure to attend their Friday Afternoon Concerts and Art Shows, as this is a great opportunity to inspire your child’s creativity.
• Peterson Air & Space Museum (Colorado Springs) – This Air and Space Museum is like no other; it is located inside of an actual air force base! Homeschoolers can visit the terminal, hangars, airpark, Medal of Honor Park, and museum. Visits must be registered at least one day in advance.

Colorado Learning Games for Children

Looking for additional ways to learn fun facts about Colorado? Want to find out how much your children have learned about the Centennial state? The free learning resources below allow you to test their knowledge, and also give your students the opportunity to practice their vocabulary, spelling, and more.